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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Pioneer Natural, Chemours, Louisiana-Pacific and Timken

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – April 10, 2018 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Pioneer Natural Resources Company (PXD - Free Report) , Chemours Company (CC - Free Report) , Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX - Free Report) and Timken Company (TKR - Free Report) .

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Bet on These Sector Stocks for Q1 Earnings

The Q1 earnings season has kicked off with a few major banks set to report this week. Earnings for the S&P 500 index are expected to grow 16% from the same period last year on 7.4% higher revenues. Earnings growth is much higher than the Q4 growth of 13.5% and represents the highest quarterly earnings growth in seven years (read: 5 Ultra-Cheap Growth ETFs for a Large-Cap Play This Spring).

Additionally, the revision trend has been impressive with earnings estimates moving up from 10.9% growth at the start of the period. In particular, estimates for 13 of the 16 Zacks sectors have gone up with basic materials, energy, construction, and industrial products sectors witnessing the most positive revisions in percentage terms. And thus, these sectors are likely to be the strongest contributors this earnings season.

Like the last three reporting cycles, energy remained at the top spot and has the strongest growth projection of 60.2% for Q1. This is followed by earnings growth of 42.2% for basic materials, 18.8% for construction, 23.9% for industrial products and 20.7% for technology.

Given this, we have highlighted one ETF and one stock from some of these sectors that could make great plays as the Q1 earnings season unfolds. Each of these ETFs and stocks have a favorable Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). For stocks, we have added the extra flavor of a positive Earnings ESP. This is because stocks with this combination have a 70% chance of beating estimates when their earnings are released, and a VGM Style Score of B or better.

You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Energy

Pioneer Natural Resources Company: This independent oil and gas exploration and production company in the United States explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and gas. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the yet-to-be reported quarter has been revised upward from 85 cents to $1.48 over the past 90 days and has an expected growth rate of 492%. It has a Zacks Rank #2 and an Earnings ESP of +3.71%. The stock delivered a positive earnings surprise of 66.92% for the last four quarters. It is scheduled to report earnings results on May 2.

Basic Materials

Chemours Company: This company provides performance chemicals in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. It has a Zacks Rank #2 and an Earnings ESP of +2.72%. The stock saw solid earnings estimate revision of seven cents over the past three months for the to-be-reported quarter and has an expected earnings growth rate of 64%. It also delivered average earnings surprise of 21.47% for the last four quarters. The company is slated to release earnings results on May 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Construction

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation: This company manufactures building materials and engineered wood products in the United States, Canada, Chile and Brazil. It has a Zacks Rank #1 and an Earnings ESP of +4.51%. The stock saw solid earnings estimate revision of 21 cents over the past 90 days for the first quarter, representing whopping growth of 103.03%, and delivered a positive earnings surprise of 4.61% for the past four quarters. The company is slated to release earnings results on May 4 (read: Why Housing Stocks & ETFs Can Have a Spring in Their Step).

Industrials

Timken Company: This company engineers, manufactures and markets bearings, transmissions, gearboxes, belts, chain and related products, and offers a spectrum of powertrain rebuild and repair services. It has a Zacks Rank #2 and an Earnings ESP of +4.03%. The stock saw solid earnings estimate revision of 12 cents for the yet-to-be-reported quarter in the past three months and has an expected growth rate of 47.27%. For the last four quarter, the positive earnings surprise is 9.61%. The company is slated to release earnings results on Apr 25.

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